How to Get Involved in Environmental Accounting

In the field of environmental accounting, you will append a major portion of your time analyzing the costs of impacts on the environment. This includes both internal and external factors of the business or government agency you work with. Once the domain of government, this field of the accounting industry is now a specialty of the private business sector as managers try to find ways of cutting costs without damaging the environment. Some of the tasks you will perform as an accountant in the environmental field include trying to find ways to reduce the costs of preventing pollution. When working in a manufacturing operation, an environmental accountant will analyze the current practices and research ways of reducing the numbers by looking for cheaper ways of achieving the business goals. This could include such things as reducing the amounts of fines the company has to pay or searching of tax opportunities and credits that were previously overlooked.

As an accountant, you can specialize in three main areas of environmental accounting. These are:

• Environmental management accounting, in which you would collect and analyze the data on material flows and pollution controls. You will prepare reports for the company executive.
  
  
  
  
• Environment finance accounting, in which you would prepare reports for investors and outside agencies.
  
  
• Environmental natural accounting, in which you would analyze how natural resources are used and how the impacts that businesses and manufacturing have on the environment are managed in the country as a whole. This aspect of environmental accounting involves looking at a much bigger picture than the other two areas.
  

There is no specific program that will train you for a job in environmental accounting. You do need to have CPA certification before you can obtain such a position, which does demonstrate that you have the skills and knowledge you need to tackle challenging accounting issues. Generally, accountants in the environmental aspect of the industry work with a company and study the practices and procedures of the company before advancing to this position. You should have a broad knowledge of municipal, state and federal regulations with respect to pollution and the environment.

You do need to have multiple skills to work in environmental accounting. Instead of working independently on cases, you will be required to work with a diverse group of professionals from many walks of life. Exceptional interpersonal skills are essential in such a position because of the many different people you will be dealing with. The traditional accountants still look after the financial aspects of the business, and through your work, you will prepare reports for these professionals and offer recommendations and advice based on your findings. You will be part of a team for developing the company’s budget and you may be responsible for overseeing the environmental part of that budget. Excellent oral and written communication skills are also essential, as you will have to make presentations and prepare written reports. On times, you may find yourself on the hot seat about certain issues, so you also need to have good problem-solving and negotiating skills.